Page 85 of Chasing Fireflies

“Right.” He nods and clears his throat. “Hello, I’m Mark Phillips—”

“Shut up, man,” I say, interrupting him and tossing an empty plastic cup his way. He ducks and laughs.

“No, man, seriously. I’ve known you for three years now, and I can honestly say there’s no one better for the job of Green Ridge’s new chief, and I’m glad to call you my friend.”

I smirk. “Thanks, man.”

“So, here’s to Cash,” Mark says, and everyone lifts their bottles and clinks them together.

“And more nights with good friends like you guys,” I throw in before taking a sip of my drink.

“Come on inside, and I’ll pour everyone a shot. We can toast it up right,” Banner says as he stands up.

“Just one, though,” Leigh says to Mark, “I’ve got a busy day at the shelter tomorrow, and you’re already lit.” She rolls her eyes as Mark stumbles inside. We all take a round of shots before everyone goes their separate ways.

*

I lift the covers for Sara to climb in, then wrap my arm around her waist and pull her up against me. “I love you, baby,” I tell her before I kiss her neck.

“Love you more,” she murmurs sleepily, and the noise of the rain starting to fall on our tin roof makes me smile with my eyes closed. I fall asleep to its comforting sound and my arms wrapped around my woman.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sara

I’m hunched over with suds up to my elbows and a dog between my knees.

“Have you slept with Banner yet?” Leigh asks Maci as she squirts dog shampoo onto the Great Dane she’s bathing. He shakes, causing most of it to come off. “Gosh dang it, Broozer. You’ve got to keep still or I’ll never get you clean for your new family,” she says, huffing and trying again to get the shampoo on him. “Well?” she asks Maci.

“Leigh, why do you want to know this?” Maci asks back as she wets her little furry I’m-not-sure-what-you-call-it dog down with the water hose.

“What do you mean why? I’m your best friend. I deserve…wedeserve,” she corrects, looking at me, “to know if you’ve slept with the guy or not.” She’s got bubbles in her hair from where Broozer decided he didn’t want the shampoo on him again.

I lean up after I finish rinsing my dog off. “Guys, I’ve got to take a break. My back feels like it’s going to snap in half.”

“Mine, too,” Leigh says, grabbing the water hose from me and rinsing what little suds off that she has on Broozer.

“You’re bathing a Great Dane, Leigh. You don’t even have to bend over,” Maci says.

“Whatever. You still didn’t answer my question.” Leigh washes her arms off, and I reach over and get the bubbles out of her hair.

“Yes. I’ve slept with him. Happy?”

“Oh my gosh, you little whore!”

“Leigh.” I laugh as Maci looks over at her in shock.

“I’m kidding,” Leigh says, holding up her hands. “Kinda.” She winks at me and screams when Maci wets her with the water hose. She takes off running, and the dogs bark around her as Maci continues to follow her with the hose. I laugh until I can’t anymore and Broozer takes her down and starts licking her face.

“Get off of me, you big ol’ giant,” Leigh says, kicking her legs out. Laughing still, I walk over and push the big dog off of her and grab her hand to help her up. She jumps up and looks over at Maci. “You got me. We are now way past even. Put the hose down,” she says playfully. Maci nods, and I walk over and shut the water off. “Now that you have no weapons, tell me some details!” Leigh says, picking up the shampoo bottles and walking over to the pool deck. I take my shorts off and slide into the pool.

“I’m glad I wore my bathing suit,” I say as I rest my elbows on the side.

“I’m getting in, too,” Maci says as Leigh grabs her float and carefully sits down on it from the ladder.

“Details, please,” Leigh repeats.

Maci sighs. “You two know I’d only ever slept with Lucas. I loved Lucas, and we had great sex—”

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